Killingly field rededicated

Saturday marked the re-dedication of Ben Desaulnier Field, and “Brennan Way” was part of the improvements. It traverses the length of the field to the bleacher area near the dugouts and is painted green. Killingly Town Manager Bruce Benway ordered the color so the walkway blended in with the field, but it’...

Jean Brennan recalled pushing the wheelchair that carried her husband, former Danielson American Legion baseball coach Ralph Brennan, through the grass to get to the baseball field at Owen Bell Park in Dayville.

Ralph Brennan, who had guided the Danielson American Legion baseball team to a state title in 1988, had been stricken by the long-term effects of diabetes and no longer could walk between the parking lot and field.

“I remember being straight out like this,” Jean Brennan said, with her hands in front of her and her back hunched over. “Sometimes, we had to stop and go a little more. But the thing that was really bad was that it made him feel really bad. I knew how much he wanted to come to the games and I wasn’t taking that away. Whatever he needed, I did.

“He would be like, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t go,’ and I told him, ‘We’re going; that’s it.”

Since his 2008 passing, Jean Brennan said she has asked for a walkway for the handicapped. On Saturday, that came to fruition thanks, in part, to the efforts of her and Randy Duquette.

Saturday marked the re-dedication of Ben Desaulnier Field, and “Brennan Way” was part of the improvements. It traverses the length of the field to the bleacher area near the dugouts and is painted green. Killingly Town Manager Bruce Benway ordered the color so the walkway blended in with the field, but it’s also fitting as one of the main colors of the Legion program is green.

Along the walkway stands a plaque commemorating “Brennan Way,” and it features photos of the coach who also was a former recreation director in Killingly and one of the committee members who helped found Owen Bell Park.

Jean Brennan had never seen the plaque before it was unveiled Saturday. With tears running down her face, she could only utter, “I can’t believe it. It’s awesome. Thank you so much.”

The word “awesome” could be used to describe Ben Desaulnier Field, too.

“Quite honestly, back in the 80s when we played here, this place was an absolute dump,” Sean Brennan, Ralph’s son and a member of the Eastern Connecticut Board of Approved Baseball Umpires, said. “There was no water, no dugouts, no press box. There was none of this, and I have to believe (Ralph Brennan) is looking down and smiling.”

Much of the credit goes to Duquette, a community volunteer who took a simple quest to the next level. Upon returning home in 2011, Duquette saw Owen Bell Park in disarray and thought baseball’s days at Ben Desaulnier Field were numbered.

Page 2 of 2 - Duquette contacted Ed Desaulnier, Ben’s father, and not only delivered to him letters that he received from Ben while Duquette was in the service, but a promise. He wanted to restore Ben Desaulnier Field in time for the 20th anniversary of it being commemorated as such in the spring of 1994. Ben Desaulnier passed away as the result of a one-car accident in October of the previous year, the beginning of his senior year in high school.

“Randy has never forgot (Ben), and he comes here and does this. It’s just tremendous,” Ed Desaulnier said.

Among the improvements are a new press box, new dugouts, new bullpens, bleacher seating behind the backstop, a freshly painted pavilion and community stage and a memorial planter — in the shape of a baseball — under the scoreboard.

“People used to come here because it was fan-friendly, and now it’s even more fan-friendly. From our kids’ standpoint, it’s an even nicer place to play,” Danielson American Legion coach Jonathan Krot said. “With the bullpens and some of the other (improvements), our development will also increase. Everything we’re doing now is not only aesthetically pleasing, but will also help the kids in the program.”

Former Danielson American Legion player Brian Bilica spoke at the dedication ceremony and recalled a favorite Ben Desaulnier story.

“We were sitting in right field, and he asked me, ‘Brian, do you know what the best sound in baseball is?’ ” Bilica recalled.

Bilica said he rattled off the ones most would say, only to get a shake of the head from Ben.

“I looked up and saw this big grin on his face and asked him what it was, and he said, ‘It’s when you put on your metal cleats and you walk around the warning track and hear the crackling sound when the cleats hit the pebbles,’ ” Bilica said. “I look around and see what Randy has done. I see a warning track, something we never had before. I was shocked.”

Duquette estimated more than $300,000 was put into the field, but all the labor was donated.

“We took some old players down here (Friday) and they were just speechless,” Duquette said. “The quality of work and the changes are night and day. I’m absolutely proud.”